It was an accident that nearly claimed the life of her young son, Jasper, but Richelle Gregory has used the traumatic experience to do some good.
After launching a donation appeal earlier this year, the Belmont North mother has raised $1200 for a Hunter organisation to provide some free CPR training to members of the community.
She will give the money to Hunter Heart Safe next week.
Hunter Heart Safe is a program in which doctors and nurses from John Hunter Hospital volunteer to provide CPR training to community members.
The Newcastle Herald told the story of Jasper's near death in January, after he was found face-down in a bucket that had been collecting water in the family's shower.
Ms Gregory said her neighbour Carolyn Heming - an experienced intensive care nurse who happened to be in her front yard when the mother raced outside with Jasper's lifeless body - had "completely and utterly" saved the 16-month-old's life.
"I suppose about a minute before the ambulance arrived I could hear his little heart beating, but he still wasn't breathing and he still wasn't conscious," Ms Heming said in January, recounting the incident.
"Then he starting crying and that was the best thing."
Ms Gregory told the NewcastleHerald this week that Jasper had "thrived" since the accident.
"It did not impede on his progress and development at all," she said.
"We are enjoying watching him walking and climbing and starting to show interest in speech and signing.
"He loves to make animal sounds and play with balls and bubbles."
IN THE NEWS:
- St Mary's Catholic College resolves school need for a feed
- The body of a man has been discovered at Cardiff
- Hunter housing industry bodies welcome federal HomeBuilder stimulus package
- Kit Candlin writes: America remains a starkly racialised and racist state
- Hunter has no active cases of COVID-19 but outbreaks expected as restrictions ease ahead of long weekend
- Toohey's News, The Podcast Episode 13: Danny Buderus
- Three charged over alleged Hunter service station ram-raids
